Individuals

We desperately need planning to be more democratic, not less, so that local communities can be invested in ensuring development meets local needs and reflects the imperative for real sustainability

I have been involved in fighting inappropriate development in the past (and been on the winning side) but the latest planning proposals remove the rights of citizens to have a meaningful voice regarding the planning process. This imposition of arbitrary planning rules will be anti-democratic and will be disastrous for the environment, for sustainable and affordable housing in the right places and for communities. Think again government.

All the glossy brochures in the world do not compensate for proper democracy for local people. There appears to be some kind of rush to get the Planning White Paper through which is worrying in itself. The right words are often used such as sustainability and climate change, protection of nature etc without the 'HOW'. The people elect Governments - please listen to them.

Poor planning has harmed communities, reduced valuable green space and created car-dependent suburbs. We can and must do better.